The Fiat Tipo range first made its local appearance in 2017 and is offered in both sedan and hatchback configurations. Recently the Italian automaker announced the arrival of completely refreshed iterations of the practical model. In total there are seven derivatives to choose from, three in the sedan body style and four hatchback variants.
While the sedan comes in a base specification and City Life trim level, the hatchback offers two trim guises namely City Life and Life. Changes to the Tipo range is not only skin deep as Fiat has introduced a series of safety and comfort upgrades in the interior as well as new engines under the bonnet. Let us take a closer look to find out the exact details.
1. Design
What would an updated model range be without revised styling cues? Upfront on the refreshed range features a new design grille which also comes fitted with the new Fiat logo, the first model locally to bear the new moniker. Flanking the new grille are redesigned headlamps with the higher trim levels incorporating daytime running lights and full-LED headlamp and taillamp configurations.
Lower down there is a new bumper design to complement the front of the vehicle and now comes garnished with brushed chrome elements. Down the sides of the vehicle, customers will also notice that 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels have also been updated in design. But not all the changes happen on the exterior, let us step inside.
Different from the used Fiat Tipo models on AutoTrader is the new fabric used on the seats. Drivers will also quickly notice that incorporated into the instrument cluster is a new 3.5-inch display. The TFT screen incorporated into the instrument cluster also communicates with the centrally fitted 5.0-inch Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system and will relay information from your phone or multimedia inputs.
The interior is finished off with a new steering wheel which will allow for better visibility of the 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster on the higher specified models while the design complements the rest of the interior where Fiat has revised the finishes around the air conditioning control panel.
2. Safety enhancements
Customers will be glad to know that Fiat also paid attention to the safety systems on-board the Tipo range. Now standard across all the trim levels and body styles is the electronic stability programme which will help the driver maintain control of the vehicle in an emergency situation. Furthermore, all the models also now feature a tyre pressure monitoring system that will notify the driver if it detects a wheel that is not at the ideal pressure or is leaking air.
On the higher specified derivatives, customers can also expect the addition of front park distance control as well as a reverse camera. to bolster the rear park distance control. In terms of improving on both safety and convenience, Fiat added a keyless entry system to the higher trim models.
Another feature that can be considered both a safety and convenience item is the fifth-generation UConnect infotainment system. The system which incorporates navigation as standard also offers occupants the ability to pair two smartphones via Bluetooth. This means that those who travel with both a personal and business phone no longer has to decide which to pair and can send and receive calls from either device.
3. Powertrains
As alluded to earlier, Fiat has fitted new engines for the updated Tipo range. One of those new engines takes shape as a 1.4-litre, 4-cylinder, petrol motor coupled to a 6-speed manual gearbox. This configuration is capable of 70 kW and 127 Nm and will propel the model to 100 km/h in 11.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 185 km/h, this all while being able to achieve a claimed average fuel consumption return of 5.7 L / 100 km.
The alternative is a 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder, petrol engine coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission. While this model does see an increase in the claimed average fuel consumption return, to 6.3 L / 100 km, it does produce more power and torque, which is rated at 81 kW and 152 Nm. This will allow Tipo models fitted with this powertrain to achieve 100 km/h in 11.2 seconds and continue to accelerate on to 192 km/h.
